The state government today said it had handed Army over 138 kanals of forest land in the outskirts of Jammu in lieu of the defence land at Satwari for its use in expansion of Jammu airport.
Jammu and Kashmir government has already handed over 138 kanals 12 marlas of forest land at Sunjwan to the Army in lieu of the defence land at Satwari which the Army is required to hand over to facilitate the long-pending extension of the existing runway at Jammu Airport, from 6700 feet to 8000 feet towards the river Tawi end, a spokesman of Raj Bhawan said.
Despite reminders, the Army has so far handed over only 20 kanals of the defence land to the government and Airport Authority of India (AAI) and is required to hand over 136 kanals 08 marlas of the land, the spokesman said.
In a letter Governor N N Vohra has addressed the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar seeking his urgent intervention to ensure against any further delay in handing over of the remaining defence land, he added.
The Governor has also mentioned that any delay in the completion of the runway expansion may result in avoidable accidents.